Finish line winner indicator



United States Patent C) 3,315,632 FINHSH LINE WINNER INDICATOR Irwin Frederick Hyden, San Jose, Calif., assignor to Eldon Industries, Inc., Hawthorne, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Oct. 20, 1965, Ser. No. 498,213 7 Claims. (Cl. 116-114) This invention is directed to a finish line winner indicator particularly adapted to be used with toy road race sets to indicate the winner of a race thereon.

Conventional road race sets are comprised of track sections which are connectable together. Each of the track sections has two slots therein so as to be able to individually guide two slot cars. The slot cars conventionally have shoes which engage in the guide slots to direct the direction of travel of the slot car. An electrical rail is positioned on each side of each of the slots so that brushes upon the slot guided cars can collect electrical power for the propulsion of the slot guided cars. Such track sections are available in several shapes, and are connectable together so that race tracks of various forms can be assembled.

Such road race sets are specifically designed and intended for the racing of separate cars on the several slots. Such racing requires the determination of the winner of races thereon, and in the past proper and adequate finish line indicators have not been available.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a finish line winner indicator which detects the passage of slot guided cars on the track, and indicates which of two such cars passes the finish line.

It is the further object of this invention to provide a winner indicator which is economic of construction, easy to use, of long life and which accurately indicates which of two slot cars passes the finish line.

It is another object of this invention to provide a finish line winner indicator for slot guided cars which detects the passage of the first car to cross the finish line by detecting the passage of its guide shoe through the slot in the road race track, and such detection causes visual indication of which car was the first to pass the finish line.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become evident from a study of the filing portion of this specification, the claims, and the attached drawings which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the finish line winner indicator of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged bottom plan view with parts broken away showing the finish line winner indicator of this invention with the mechanism in condition to detect the first car to pass the finish line;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical section, with parts broken away, taken generally along the line 4;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged bottom plan view with parts broken away, similar to FIG. 3 showing the mechanism after a car has been detected;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged elevational view of the indicator which indicates the Winning car.

As an aid to understanding this invention, it can be stated in essentially summary form that it is directed to a finish line winner indicator for road race sets. The finish line winner indicator is comprised of a track section having the indicator thereon. The track section is compatible with other track sections of the race track set so that it may be installed therein as part of the track. The track section has first and second guide slots therein for the guidance of individual race cars. A conductor rail lies along each side of each guide slot so as to be able to furnish power to the road race cars which pass thereacross while being guided by the guide slot. A trigger link is positioned adjacent and below each slot.

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Each trigger link is pivoted away from the line of the slot and each trigger link carries a pin thereon. The pin is positioned so that when the trigger is in the set position, the trigger pin occupies a position in line with the slot. The pivot is so positioned that when a guide shoe on a road race car moving along the track engages with the trigger pin, the trigger pin is moved in an accurate path out of the slot. A sear on the other end of each of the trigger links engages with a stop on an actuating plate. Springs maintain the trigger links in position and a toggle spring is connected between the track base and the actuating plate. The toggle spring is dead-centered when both trigger plates lock the actuating plate in the central position. When one of the triggers is actuated, its sear moves away from the actuating plate and the springs force the actuating plate to rotate about its pivot. An actuating shaft rotates with the actuating plate, and the upper end of the actuating shaft carries an indicator drum. The indicator drum is arranged with suitable indicator with respect to one or more windows in the framework so as to indicate which car first passed the finish line.

This invention will be understood in greater detail by reference to the following portion of the specification. Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the finish line winner indicator of this invention is generally indicated at rest. The finish line winner indicator 10 generally comprises a track section 12 which is compatible with the remaining track sections of the road race set. The track section 12 has a bottom surface 14 which is adapted to lie upon the floor, a table or any supporting surface for the road race set. Track section 12 has a top surface 16 which lies substantially coplanar with the top sections of the re maining track sections. Slots 18 and 20 are formed below the top surface 16 and are of such dimension so as to accept the guide shoes of the road race cars so as to guide the progress of the cars along the top surface 16. Electrical conductors 22 and 24 are arranged parallel to and adjacent to slot 18. Electrical conductors 26 and 28 are arranged adjacent to and parallel to slot 29. Road race cars of suitable nature to be operated upon the road race track of which track section 12 is a portion have suitable propulsion electric motors and suitable brushes to engage with the electrical conductors so that energization of the electrical conductors energizes the motor in the road race car. This is well known in the art, and will not be further discussed in detail in this specification.

Openings 30 and 32 are respectively cut away adjacent slots 18 and 2t Trigger links 34 and 36 are respectively pivoted on pins 38 and 40, and the pivots 38 and 40 are positioned between the slots 18 and 20. Trigger pins 42 and 44 are located respectively on trigger links 34 and 36. The upper plane surface of trigger links 34 and 36 lie substantially in the plane of the bottom of slots 18 and 20, while the trigger pins 42 and 44 extend upwardly therefrom. Thus trigger pins 42 and 44 are positioned to extend upwardly into slots 18 and 20. Furthermore, the pivotal position of the trigger link determines the arcuate path of motion of the trigger pins, and determines that when one is engaged by arace car guide shoe, the trigger pins, individually, swing out of the path of motion of the guide shoe. The forward end of slots 39 and 32 determine the forwardmost position of trigger pins 40 and 42 by engagement of the pins upon the structure defining the slots.

Indicator shaft 46 is inserted in boss 48 so that it is nonrotatable with respect thereto. Boss 48 is carried in bearing opening 50 in track section 12. Actuator plate 52 carries boss 48. Thus the rotative position of actuator plate 52 determines the rotative position of indicator shaft 46. Actuator plate 52, as is best seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, has stop shoulders 54 and 56. Sears 58 3 and 60 are arranged that they are respectively in engagement with stop shoulders 56 and 54 when pins 42 and 44 are in their forwardrnost position, and when actuator plate 52 is in its central position. Thus, actuator plate 52 is locked in its central position.

Stop lug 62 is formed on actuator plate 52 and acts in association with stops 64 and 66 which are formed to extend downwardly into the path of travel of stop lug 62. Thus the rotative limit of actuator plate 52 and indicator shaft 46 is determined by the relationship of stop lug 62 with stops 64 and 66, espectially as seen in FIG. 5.

The locking and the limits of motion of the actuator plate 52 having been shown, the springs are associated with trigger links 34 and 36, actuator plate 52 and the track section 12 to cause appropriate motion of actuator plate 52. Spring 68 is pivotally connected at '70 to trigger link 36, near the end of sear 60 and its pivot pin 40. The other end of spring 68 is pivotally connected at 72 to actuator plate 52 at a point below and to the right of the axis of rotation of indicator shaft 46, as is seen in FIGS. 3 and 5. With this orientation, the line of action of spring 68 passes slightly below the axis of shaft 46. Similarly spring 74 is pivoted at 76 to trigger link 34 near sear 58. The other end of spring 74 is pivoted at 78 below and to the left of the axis of shaft 46, as is seen in FIGS. 3 and 5. Thus, the spring loads on actuator plate 52 are balanced when the structure is in the locked and ready position of FIG. 3. As soon as a guide shoe strikes one of the trigger pins, for example trigger pin 44, trigger link 36 rotates in a clockwise direction, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, so that more force is applied by spring 68 than by spring 74. This causes clockwise rotation of actuator plate 52 as seen in FIGS. 3 and 5. As soon as motion is initiated, the moment arm of spring 68 acting upon plate 52 becomes more effective than the moment arm of spring 74 so that motion continues. When in the terminal position of FIG. 5, the line of action of spring 74 passes substantially through the axis of shaft 46 so that its spring action is completely ineffective so that the actuator plate 52 remains in the actuated position no matter what happens to the trigger link 34.

In order to assume continued motion of actuator plate 52 when trigger link34 may be actuated very soon after the actuation of trigger link 36, toggle spring 80 is provided. Toggle spring 80 is pivoted at 82 to actuator plate 52 and on pivot lug 84 secured to the bottom of track section 12. As is seen in FIG. 3, when the actuator plate 52 is in its central, locked position, pivot 82 is in line between pivot lug 84 and the axis of indicator shaft 46. Therefore spring 86 does not apply rotative force to actuator plate 52 ineither direction. However, as soon as actuator plate 52 rotates even slightly in one direction or the other, toggle spring 80 applies rotative torque thereto to maintain rotation in the same direction until stop lug 62 engages one or the other of stops 74 or 66. Thus, accurate action is assured.

Uprights 86 and 88, see FIGS. 1 and 2, are secured to the edges of track section 12 and carry cross bar 90 thereon. The uprights and the cross bar can be decorated with flagstaffs and flags 92, or other decorative devices, if desired. Cross bar 90 has an enlarged, cylindrical section 94 at its center. Actuator shaft 46 extends upwardly into the hollow interior thereof and carries indicator 96 thereon. Drum 96 has reset knob 98 positioned on the top thereof and extending out of opening 100 in the top of cylindrical section 94. Rotation of reset knob 98 causes the actuator plate 52 to move to its central position, as shown in FIG. 3 at which position the springs cause the trigger links 34 and 36 to lock the actuator plate 52 in the central position.

Windows 102 and 164 are formed in the front of cylindrical section 94. Indicia 106 on indicator drum 96 are visible through the windows 162 and 104. Indicia 106 comprises of panels 103 and 110 of one, preferably light color, preferably matching the exterior color of cylindrical section 94. Indicia 106 is a panel 112 of a relatively bright, contrasting color, such as red. Panel 112 is of such dimensions as not to be visible through either the windows 102 or 104 when the actuator plate is in the central position. In the central position, the panels 168 and 110 are visible therethrough. However, when actuator plate 52 is rotated to one position or the other, panel 112 is visible through one or the other of the corresponding windows so as to indicate the winner. For example, when considering the structure in the top plan view of FIG. 2, should the first road race car move in slot 20, it engages trigger pin 44 and causes counterclockwise motion of actuator plate 52. This causes rotation of drum 94 so that panel 112 is visible through window 104 to indicate that the car moving through slot 20 was the first car to arrive at the finish line. Reset is accomplished by manual rotation of knob 98, after the race is concluded.

It is important to note that the connections between trigger links 34 and 36 and actuator plate 52 are in the form of resilient springs 68 and 74. This resilient connection permits either of the trigger links 34 and 36 to move and thus permit a car to pass. If solid linkages were used, depending on the linkage, the second car to pass the finish line winner indicator would be spilled, for its trigger pin would not be able to move out of the way. Furthermore, with the simultaneous passing of cars through the finish line winner indicator both of the trigger pins must be resiliently mounted. These springs provide such resilient mounting, and provide tie race indication. As has been previously described, the actuator plate is quite sensitive to the spring forces impose-d thereon. In fact, at normal speeds, a difierence in position of two cars exceeding V of an inch will produce positive action to indicate that the first car to arrive is the winner. When the difference in car position is less than that, a tie finish is indicated by no motion of actuator plate 52.

This invention having been described in its preferred embodiment, it is clear that it is susceptible to numerous modifications and changes within the spirit of this invention and without the exercise of the inventive faculty. Accordingly, the scope of this invention is defined by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A finish line Winner indicator for a road race car set, said finish line winner indicator comprising:

a track section forming the base for said finish line winner indicator, said track section having a top surface and having first and second slots therein formed to extend below said top surface, first and second trigger links movably secured to said track section, said first trigger link being movably positioned so as to occupy a first position in the path of said first slot in one position of said trigger link and a position away from said first slot in another position of said trigger link, said second trigger link being arranged to occupy a position in the path of the second slot path in one position and occupy a position away from the path of said second slot when in another position, a sear on each of said trigger links;

an actuator plate, said actuator plate being positionable in a central position and in first and second side positions, first and second stops on said actuator plate, said first and second stops being engageable by first and second sears on said first and second trigger links to maintain said actuator plate in its central position, said actuator plate being arranged to move away from its central position when one of the trigger links is moved so as to move its sear away from said corresponding stop on said actuator plate.

2. The finish line winner indicator of claim 1 wherein a spring is connected between said first trigger link and said actuator plate, and another spring is connected between said second trigger link and said actuator plate, said springs causing motion of said actuator plate when said actuator plate is released by movement of one of said trigger links.

3, The finish line winner indicator of claim 2 wherein said actuator plate is positioned below said top surface of said track section, a shaft secured to said actuator plate, said shaft extending upwardly from said top surface of said track section, indicator means secured to said shaft, said indicator means indicating the position of said actuator plate.

4. The finish line Winner indicator of claim 3 wherein said indicator means provides one indication corresponding to the central position of said actuator plate and a different indication for alternative positioning of said actuator plate away from said central position depending upon which of said first and second trigger links is actuated to move said actuator plate away from said central position.

5. The finish line winner indicator of claim 4 wherein said indicator means comprises a drum, a cover over said drum, said cover being supported by said track section, at least one window in said cover, said window in said cover being adjacent to said indicator drum so that said indicator drum is visible through said window, said drum having indicia thereon alternatively visible through said window so as to indicate the position of said drum and said actuator plate.

6. The finish line Winner indicator of claim 5 wherein a manual reset knob is secured to said shaft so that said drum, said shaft and said actuator plate can be reset to the central position wherein said trigger links maintain said actuator plate in said central position.

7. A finish line winner indicator for a road race set, sai-d finish line winner indicator comprising a track section and upright structure extending above said track section;

said track section having an upper substantially planar surface, first and second substantially parallel slots extending across said track section and extending below the top surface thereof, said first and second slots being adapted to control the direction of passage of road race cars across said track section, said track section being adapted to being connected to further track sections in the road race car set, a first opening in said first slot and a second opening in said second slot, a first trigger link pivoted adjacent said first slot below said top surface of said track section, a second trigger link pivoted adjacent said second slot below said top surface of said track section, a first trigger pin on said first trigger link, said first trigger pin extending into said opening in said first slot and being positionable in a first position wherein said pivot pin is in the path of said first slot and being pivotable by pivoting of said first link to a second position away from the path of said first slot, said second trigger link carrying a second pivot pin, said second pivot pin being positionable in a first position in the path of said second slot and being pivotable with said second trigger link into a second position away from the path of said second slot, a first scar on said first trigger link and a second sear on said second trigger link;

an actuator plate, said actuator plate being pivotably mounted on said track section, said actuator plate having first and second stops, said first and second stops being engageable by said first and second sears, respectively, to maintain said actuator plate in a central position, limit stop means on said actuator plate and cooperative limit stop means on said track section, said limit stop means cooperating to define first and second limits of motion of said actuator plate away from said central position respectively in a first direction and a second direction, a spring connected between said first trigger link and said actuator plate, a second spring connected between said actuator plate and said second trigger link, a third spring connected between said track section and said actuator plate, said trigger link, said actuator plate and said springs being arranged so that when one of said trigger pins is actuated by the passage of a road race car shoe along one of said slots, said sear on a trigger link releases said actuator plate and said springs cause rotation of said actuator plate on its pivot from said central position to one of its alternative positions;

said superstructure mounted on said track section, said superstructure extending upwardly from said upper surface of said track section, said superstructure comprising first and second upwardly extending uprights and a cross bar secured to said uprights, said cross bar extending across said track section and spaced from the supper surface of said track section, a shaft extending upwardly from said uppersurface of said track surface, said shaft being connected to rotate with said actuator plate, said shaft extending upwardly into said cross bar, an indicator drum mounted on said shaft to rotate with said shaft, a window in said cross bar, said indicator drum being visible through said window, indicia on said indicator drum, said indicia being visible through said window and indicating rotation of said indicator drum, a manually operable knob secured to said shaft, said manually operable knob being connected to rotate said shaft and said actuator plate so as to move said actuator plate away from the limit position defined by said stop means toward the central position, said first and second springs being arranged so as to engage said sears with said stops on said actuator plate when said actuator plate is moved to the central position.

No references cited. LOUIS J. CAPOZI, Primary Examiner, 

1. A FINISH LINE WINNER INDICATOR FOR A ROAD RACE CAR SET, SAID FINISH LINE WINNER INDICATOR COMPRISING: A TRACK SECTION FORMING THE BASE FOR SAID FINISH LINE WINNER INDICATOR, SAID TRACK SECTION HAVING A TOP SURFACE AND HAVING FIRST AND SECOND SLOTS THEREIN FORMED TO EXTEND BELOW SAID TOP SURFACE, FIRST AND SECOND TRIGGER LINKS MOVABLY SECURED TO SAID TRACK SECTION, SAID FIRST TRIGGER LINK BEING MOVABLY POSITIONED SO AS TO OCCUPY A FIRST POSITION IN THE PATH OF SAID FIRST SLOT IN ONE POSITION OF SAID TRIGGER LINK AND A POSITION AWAY FROM SAID FIRST SLOT IN ANOTHER POSITION OF SAID TRIGGER LINK, SAID SECOND TRIGGER LINK BEING ARRANGED TO OCCUPY A POSITION IN THE PATH OF THE SECOND SLOT PATH IN ONE POSITION AND OCCUPY A POSITION AWAY FROM THE PATH OF SAID SECOND SLOT WHEN IN ANOTHER POSITION, A SEAR ON EACH OF SAID TRIGGER LINKS; AN ACTUATOR PLATE, SAID ACTUATOR PLATE BEING POSITIONABLE IN A CENTRAL POSITION AND IN FIRST AND SECOND SIDE POSITIONS, FIRST AND SECOND STOPS ON SAID ACTUATOR PLATE, SAID FIRST AND SECOND STOPS BEING ENGAGEABLE BY FIRST AND SECOND SEARS ON SAID FIRST AND SECOND 